OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - It's an event many participate in because they have lost someone as a result of suicide.
Around 300 people walked together Sunday on the Ole Miss campus to raise awareness about suicide and to raise funds for suicide prevention.
Each person walking has their own personal cause.
"For me this walk is kind of like a memorial," said Srijan Gangidi, student. "I have family who have been depressed in the past and some we've actually lost to depression. It's kind of like a memorial for me. I am kind of respecting them in my own way."
When it comes to the Out of Darkness Community Walk there is a customary tradition for people walking to wear beads and each bead has a color. Each one of those colors represents a purpose and a cause.
"Blue right here is supporting the cause," adds Brandy Baczwaski, walk co-chair. "Other colors represent loss of parent or a child and this kind of brings people together in the walk. They can see without really saying, 'I lost someone,' they can see other people with similar color beads."
Each step forward serves as a reminder of someone who became a statistic.
"It really touched me personally," adds Meg Merritt, student. "It's something I took very personally to heart because I care so much for her. I almost felt like it was in my own immediate family and so I felt the need to support the cause."
"I am just here because I have lost several people to suicide, including my best friend's brother," added Wyeth Silber, student. "We lost him in January. So we're just out here to support her and support this cause. "[We want] to make sure we don't lose anyone else to suicide because it's not an option."
Another purpose from the walk is how it helps people open up and discuss a subject that so many just assume not talk about for a variety of reasons.
"It's bringing awareness to a topic that some people don't feel comfortable talking about," adds Jennifer Bailey, volunteer. "It just brings so much support for families and friends."
"This is one of those things that no one wants to talk about," added Silber. "It definitely needs to be talked about cause it's just not acceptable to lose people this way it's so preventable."
Many say even if the walk helps save one person's life, it's considered a success.
Half of the proceeds raised will stay in the Oxford community benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
